This species is very close to Isachne schmidtii Hackel, from Indonesia and peninsular Malaysia, which is somewhat smaller, with shorter leaf blades, a more contracted panicle, and especially differs in its glumes extending beyond the florets. Isachne schmidtii has often been confused in the literature with I. kunthiana (Wight & Arnott ex Steudel) Miquel, from India and Sri Lanka, which also has glumes longer than the florets, but differs by its underground rhizomes and glabrous or setose glumes.